For Ahumwire Justine, a banana farmer from Shuku, in Uganda's
southwest, a rain and hailstorm last October underscored the vulnerability of
her plantation to extreme weather, destroying 300 of her banana trees and
killing two cows. This event highlighted the challenges faced by farmers in
regions increasingly affected by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change has noted a rise in the frequency and intensity of such storms,
exacerbating the struggle for farmers to protect their livelihoods and crops. https://www.freshplaza.com/europe/article/9674354/ugandan-banana-farmers-boost-resilience-to-climate-change-with-innovative-insurance/
KATIKKIRO: BUGANDA WILL GROW COFFEE EVEN WITHOUT UCDA
The
Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga
has said coffee growing under their “Emmwanyi Terimba” initiative will go on
unabated despite the planned disbandment of the Uganda Coffee Development
Authority (UCDA). I urge Baganda
(and other Ugandans) to continue growing coffee: your livelihood is more
important than the motives of present day politicians,” he said, a day after
Parliament voted to advance the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024,
which proposes the dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority after
32 years of operation. He said the Kingdom of Buganda has severally advised
against scrapping UCDA since it superintends coffee production, upon which
nearly two million Ugandan households depend. https://www.independent.co.ug/katikkiro-buganda-will-grow-coffee-even-without-ucda/
COFFEE EXPORT COMPROMISE
Sustained
pressure from both within the European Union and coffee-producing countries
such as Uganda has compelled the EU to extend the implementation of its
Deforestation Regulation directive by 12 months. The ban is now set to take effect on Dec.30, 2025. In a statement
issued on Oct.2, the European Commission said it was proposing a 12-month
extension of “phasing-in period” to support the global implementation of the
so-called EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The European Commission also published additional guidance
documents to support third countries (non-EU member states) in their
preparation for the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. https://www.independent.co.ug/coffee-export-compromise/
CLIMATE CHANGE HURTING TEA PRODUCTION IN EAST AFRICA
The East
African Tea Trade Association (Eatta) says exports have gone down from 517
million kilos in 2022 to 482 million kilos in 2023, a 6.8 percent decline. Addressing
the 6th edition of the Africa Tea Convention and Exhibition in Kigali this
week, Eatta managing director George Omuga also blamed increased production costs,
economic and geopolitical factors, social dynamics, and the mismatch between
supply and demand. Climate change
hurting tea production in East Africa - The EastAfrican
MUSEVENI ON UCDA DEBATE: 'IT'S WRONG TO SAY MINISTRIES CANNOT
PERFORM'
As the
debate on the rationalization of the Uganda Coffee Development
Authority (UCDA) rages on, President Yoweri Museveni has again spoken out on
the sticky matter, further making a case for the move and urging an end to
"this circus".
earlier missive issued on Sunday Museveni
on UCDA debate: 'It's wrong to say ministries cannot perform' - New Vision
Official
HOIMA COFFEE FARMERS COUNT LOSSES AS WILT, TWIG BORER WREAK HAVOC
Coffee Hoima
coffee farmers count losses as wilt, twig borer wreak havoc - New Vision
Official
18.4 MILLION UGANDANS FOOD INSECURE – REPORT
At least four in every 10 households in Ugandan are
moderate or severely food insecure, according to the 2024 National Population
and Housing Census report. This is
affecting the livelihoods of at least 18.4 million Ugandans. Of these, Karamoja
has the highest population affected, followed by Teso, Bukedi and West Nile
regions. Also hit are Lango, Elgon and Busoga while the least affected are
Buganda, Ankole and Bunyoro regions. In
Karamoja, according to the report, 63% of the people are food insecure, while
Teso and Bukedi stand at 50% each. West Nile stands at 48% while Lango, Elgon
and Busoga are at 41%, 39% and 34%, respectively. 18.4
million Ugandans food insecure – report - New Vision Official
ETHIOPIAN MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETS SOROTI FRUIT FACTORY SUPPLIERS
The new
management running the affairs of Soroti Fruit Factory on Friday (October 25)
met with the farmers at the factory premises. Government
three months ago handed the factory to
Chimaki, an Ethiopian company headed by Azeb Mesfin, to take over the
management of the complex and the entire processes including the
procurement of fruits. During her
first interaction with farmers' leaders, Azeb promised to meet the farmers'
expectations by buying their fruits. She
announced that in the next season which begins between November to late
January, the factory will buy 2,000 metric tons of oranges which is more than
what the factory used to buy from farmers. Ethiopian
management team meets Soroti Fruit Factory suppliers - New Vision Official
MAYIGA URGES BUGANDA ON COFFEE GROWING DESPITE CONTROVERSY
The
Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged coffee growing areas of
the country not to relent in their enthusiasm for growing the crop, saying the
venture is very productive and is a good way to get out of poverty. He also
said the Kingdom of Buganda is against scrapping the Uganda He was on Saturday (October
26) weighing in on the controversy that has recently enveloped the crop,
causing unease in Buganda where the crop is grown widely. On
Thursday, Parliament voted to advance the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill,
2024, which proposes the dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority
(UCDA) after 32 years of operation. Mayiga
urges Buganda on coffee growing despite controversy - New Vision Official
MINISTER TUMWEBAZE CHAIRS AU MEETING ON AGRICULTURE
Agriculture
minister Frank Tumwebaze has chaired a meeting of African Union’s (AU)
specialised technical committee on agriculture, rural development, water and
environment. The meeting
was held on Friday (October 25) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tumwebaze
took to X, formerly Twitter, and said the meeting was in preparation for the
extraordinary AU Heads of State and Government summit that will take place in
Kampala in January 2025. “While
substantial progress has been made by many AU states in developing resilient
agri-food systems, 200 million Africans remain food insecure,” he said. He noted
that food and feed production too, must balance well with environmental
security. Minister
Tumwebaze chairs AU meeting on agriculture - New Vision Official
WORLD LEADERS ASKED TO BUDGET FOR INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE
The lack of funds for
innovators is to blame for less adaptation of technologies and innovations that
can unlock opportunities in the agriculture sector.
That is why global leaders have been asked to strengthen collaborations
to secure funds that will advance the development of resilient food systems in
Africa. The call was made by Adesuwa Ifedi, the vice-president for Africa programmes at
Heifer International during the World Economic Forum that took place in Rome,
during a panel discussion titled: From Start-Up to Scale at the Food and
Agriculture Organisation Headquarters between October 14 and 18, 2024. World
leaders asked to budget for innovations in agriculture - New Vision Official
CLIMATE CHANGE FUELLING FOOD INSECURITY IN WEST NILE
The agriculture sector in Uganda is experiencing
climate change effects manifested through, frequent, intense and prolonged dry
spells, droughts, floods, increases in temperature and higher incidences of
pests and diseases. This has resulted in shifts in farming seasons, which has led to loss
and damages, and ultimately contributed to the low agriculture performance. The West Nile region has not been spared from these climate change effects,
which are partly being blamed for the growing food insecurity. The Food Rights Alliance (FRA) and other stakeholders in the agricultural
sector have raised alarm over the food insecurity affecting various parts of
Uganda. According to the census report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS)
released last month, a food crisis across Uganda, particularly in the West Nile
region looms. Climate
change fuelling food insecurity in West Nile - New Vision Official
RWABWOGO TIPS TEA FARMERS ON BEST PRACTICES
Presidential
Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development
(PACEID) chairperson Odrek Rwabwogo has implored tea farmers across the
country to adopt best farming practices.
The move,
according to him, will enable the farmers to access lucrative markets abroad. “The market
for Ugandan tea is available if only we meet the required market standards by
self-regulating to get rid of bad tea growing practices,” he said. Rwabwogo,
who is also the senior presidential advisor on special duties, made the remarks
on October 18, 2024, during a meeting of the greater Bushenyi’s tea sector
stakeholders at Igara Tea Factory in Kyamuhunga sub-county, Bushenyi district. Rwabwogo
tips tea farmers on best practices - New Vision Official
RHINO SETTLEMENT CAMP REFUGEES TRAINED IN RICE PROTECTION
TECHNIQUES
Members
of different vulnerable refugee groups, including widows, at Rhino Settlement
Camp in Madi Okollo district in West Nile have been trained in inclusive
techniques and knowledge of rice planting to enhance rice production, food
security, and household income. The training was carried out by the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the National Agricultural
Research Organisation (NARO) under the Promotion of Sustainable Rice Farming
Development (Eco-PRiDe) project. Rhino
settlement camp refugees trained in rice protection techniques - New Vision
Official
UGANDA BANKS ON FAO’S INITIATIVE TO BOOST ECONOMY
Uganda
is also banking on the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) initiative of the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to boost the economy that was hit hard by
the coronavirus pandemic. “The
Hand-in-Hand initiative will support Uganda’s Vision 2040 to transform the
economy into a competitive upper middle-income country,” animal industry state
minister Bright Rwamirama, said on October 15, 2024. Rwamirama,
who is also the Isingiro North MP, is currently participating in the HIH
Investment Forum and World Food Forum 2024 at the FAO headquarters in Rome,
Italy. He took to
X, formerly Twitter, and said at the three-day forum, he presented the four
priority investment opportunities in Uganda: Dairy /milk processing, animal
feeds manufacturing, foot and mouth disease vaccine production as well as maize processing. Uganda
banks on FAO’s initiative to boost economy - New Vision Official
FAO CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES IN UGANDA
As
Uganda joins the rest of the world in celebrating World Food Day, the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Uganda has called for the
adoption of science-based technologies, innovations, and artificial intelligence
to address challenges facing the agriculture sector. In a statement
issued by FAO on Tuesday, FAO’s country representative, Antonio
Querido said that other technologies like biotechnology and digital
agriculture among other technologies can improve agricultural productivity,
reduce food waste, and promote sustainable practices that protect biodiversity. FAO
calls for sustainable agriculture practices in Uganda - New Vision Official
'SELLING HARVEST FOR ALCOHOL TO BLAME FOR TESO HUNGER'
As the
country joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Food Day, today,
October 16, 2024, agricultural experts are warning farmers against the sale of
crops to buy liquor. The celebrations in
Serere district are under the theme Right to Foods for a Better Life and a
Better Future, which shall have experts reflect on how best the country can
secure its people from hunger. Statistics from the
agriculture ministry indicate that the regions of Teso, Bukedi, North and West
Nile are highly affected by food shortage, which exposes its people to
malnutrition. Commissioner of
agricultural extension and skills management Henry Nakelet Opolot says in Teso,
most farmers sell their harvest to buy alcohol. 'Selling
harvest for alcohol to blame for Teso hunger' - New Vision Official
AGRICULTURE AGENCIES DEFEND ROLES AMID GOVERNMENT RATIONALIZATION
DEBATE
Agricultural
agencies have mounted a defense against the government’s rationalisation
programme, arguing that their roles are distinct from those of the agriculture
ministry (MAAIF), their mother ministry. During an
interface with the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture on October 10,
2024, the agencies outlined their positions asserting that there is no overlap
between their mandates and the ministry’s responsibilities. They
appeared alongside agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze
and public
service minister Muruli
Mukasa, who had gone to present and defend four agricultural Bills that had
been tabled in Parliament on September 24, 2024. Agriculture
agencies defend roles amid Government rationalization debate - New Vision
Official
MOMBASA AUCTION STRANDED WITH 119M KILOS OF UNSOLD TEA
The
business continues to grapple with tea stocks, driven by the high volumes of
the commodity carried over from previous years, reaching three times more above
international requirements. Over 119
million kilos were rolled over to this year. This is the first
time Mombasa, which is the second-largest black tea auction centre in the
world after Colombo in Sri Lanka, is rolling over huge volumes of tea,
with traders and government blaming market mismanagement and cartels in the
industry. Mombasa
auction stranded with 119m kilos of unsold tea - The EastAfrican
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